coilover ? for you experts

ok i have this problem with my coilovers. ok, im adjusting my rears and i measure them both so there the same height. i mean measured everything. distance between both locking nuts and height from the locking nut on bottom to the top of the threaded body. but when i lower it, one side seems to be higher than the other, even after a test run. im thinking now its because i havent adjusted the fronts yet. im confused

I'm guessing your coils are height adjustable that doesn't affect stroke (shock body moves up and down not the actual spring, like on JIC FLTA2's)... so that being said, there's a couple different things that can be making it different heights, but as long as the travel on both sides is the same... it doesn't really matter if one is adjusted a tad lower on the body to make them both the same when the cars on the ground IMO.

ant are those the jic's?

[QUOTE=ARGETNIA;36619]ant are those the jic's?[/QUOTE]

yup!

[QUOTE=gmckey;36611]I'm guessing your coils are height adjustable that doesn't affect stroke (shock body moves up and down not the actual spring, like on JIC FLTA2's)... so that being said, there's a couple different things that can be making it different heights, but as long as the travel on both sides is the same... it doesn't really matter if one is adjusted a tad lower on the body to make them both the same when the cars on the ground IMO.[/QUOTE]

so let me get this right. your saying its ok if both coilovers have the same measurements, but when the wheels are on and they are off a bit, its ok?? 

but it looks funny if one side is higher than the other

what I was trying to say is this: both green arrowed places are places of adjustment... if you're off by a few splines it can make the sides different heights when on the ground... but as long as the pink area on both sides is about the same (you have the same amount of travel on both sides) it doesn't matter if both coils are adjusted to different physical lengths to attain the a level/equal ride height.

MS Paint FTW
[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/gmckey/coil.jpg[/IMG]

Just mess around with it and make it the same height when the cars on the ground basically is what I'm saying.

oh, gotcha. yeah thats how it is right now. i didnt touch the coils. just the body. hey, nice pic : )

I think what [B]gmckey[/B] was telling you is that you need to setup the distance/preload of the spring itself from the top of the spring seat to the bottom of the spring and make sure THAT is even so it doesn't affect stroke. Once you set THAT height up evenly on both sides; you may then loosen the single locking collar at the bottom of the sleeve (which allows you to SEPERATELY adjust ride height without affecting shock stroke and spring load) and make your ride height adjustments by turning the entire sleeve instead until your car is even when it IS on the ground. So your car can still look ill, but you don't affect the shock stroke.

I had the same exact problem with my R32 and I ALSO have JIC FLTA2's and ended up having 1/4 inch difference in distances on the sleeve even though the car was even visually. It usaully has to do with the difference in weight to each corner of the car like if you have a system or something off to one side. Hope i was some help in getting your vehicle dialed in. YOU GOT SOME PICS! How low you going? I went 4 3/4 on my R32, workin on the Y33 cima now

Nevermind...damn gmckey ur good! And very quick i didn't have time to C your diagram. Im comin to you next time for advice!

[QUOTE=SPYblack;36631]I think what [B]gmckey[/B] was telling you is that you need to setup the distance/preload of the spring itself from the top of the spring seat to the bottom of the spring and make sure THAT is even so it doesn't affect stroke. Once you set THAT height up evenly on both sides; you may then loosen the single locking collar at the bottom of the sleeve (which allows you to SEPERATELY adjust ride height without affecting shock stroke and spring load) and make your ride height adjustments by turning the entire sleeve instead until your car is even when it IS on the ground. So your car can still look ill, but you don't affect the shock stroke.

I had the same exact problem with my R32 and I ALSO have JIC FLTA2's and ended up having 1/4 inch difference in distances on the sleeve even though the car was even visually. It usaully has to do with the difference in weight to each corner of the car like if you have a system or something off to one side. Hope i was some help in getting your vehicle dialed in. YOU GOT SOME PICS! How low you going? I went 4 3/4 on my R32, workin on the Y33 cima now[/QUOTE]

its on my Y33. its about 1.5-1.75 gap between the rim and the bottom of the fender. ill get some pics this weekend. i havent washed my car since i done everything. it gets dark around 5pm and its pretty cold to wash my car. so hopefully this weekend i can get it cleaned and take pics.

right on bro looking forward to some pics.

From personal experience, on an S2K that had this problem...

Turned out his frame was twisted.  I did all the measurements...multiple times.

You rollin with a straight frame Ant?

my 2 cents.
Chris

[QUOTE=speedalliance.com;37491]From personal experience, on an S2K that had this problem...

Turned out his frame was twisted.  I did all the measurements...multiple times.

You rollin with a straight frame Ant?

my 2 cents.
Chris[/QUOTE]

how can you tell??

[QUOTE=antbo;36609]ok i have this problem with my coilovers. ok, im adjusting my rears and i measure them both so there the same height. i mean measured everything. distance between both locking nuts and height from the locking nut on bottom to the top of the threaded body. but when i lower it, one side seems to be higher than the other, even after a test run. im thinking now its because i havent adjusted the fronts yet. im confused[/QUOTE]

setting coilover length aside (height vs full-height adjust)...

no car, sus piece (shock, spring, arm, bushing etc), wheel, tire [or pressure], and fender are identical.  it is normal for one side of the car to be higher than the other if you have set both coilover lengths the same.

even more obviously are things you cannot account for like road grade, climate, or the weight of the car itself when it comes to structural, electrical, fluid, or interior placement.

what if you put the coilovers on the highest setting or lowest settings and work your way up or down the to prefred height you want and count how many clicks,spings or whatever so it can be even? maybe that can help distingusih you know maybe one side is not equal?